Japanese idioms are like little puzzles-the words look familiar, but the meaning is something else entirely. This list gathers around 120 common expressions that pop up in dramas, conversations, and even your friend’s text messages. No ancient proverbs that nobody uses, just practical idioms that add color to your everyday Japanese.
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| Expression | Reading | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 一期一会 | いちごいちえ | a once-in-a-lifetime encounter | この旅行での出会いは一期一会だから、大切にしましょう。 | These travel encounters are once-in-a-lifetime, so let's treasure them. |
| 一石二鳥 | いっせきにちょう | killing two birds with one stone | 歩いて通勤すると運動にもなって一石二鳥だ。 | Walking to work is killing two birds with one stone, since it also gives me exercise. |
| 七転八起 | しちてんはっき | fall down seven times, get up eight; never give up | 失敗しても七転八起でまた挑戦する。 | Even if I fail, I'll get up and try again—seven falls, eight rises. |
| 三日坊主 | みっかぼうず | someone who quits after a few days | 彼はいつも三日坊主で終わる。 | He always quits after a few days. |
| 二階から目薬 | にかいからめぐすり | something ineffective or pointless | そんな遠くから注意しても、二階から目薬だよ。 | Warning from that far away is like eye drops from the second floor—completely ineffective. |
| 以心伝心 | いしんでんしん | mutual understanding without words | 私と親友は以心伝心で、何も言わなくても分かる。 | My best friend and I have a heart-to-heart connection; we understand each other without words. |
| 兜を脱ぐ | かぶとをぬぐ | to admit defeat; to give in | 何度も負けて、ついに彼は兜を脱いだ。 | After losing many times, he finally gave up. |
| 十人十色 | じゅうにんといろ | different people have different tastes | 好きな食べ物は十人十色です。 | Favorite foods vary from person to person—ten people, ten colors. |
| 口がうまい | くちがうまい | smooth-talking; good at flattery | 彼は口がうまいので、つい信じてしまいます。 | He is smooth-talking, so I end up believing him. |
| 口が堅い | くちがかたい | tight-lipped; keeps secrets | 彼女は口が堅いので、安心して話せます。 | She keeps secrets, so you can talk to her with confidence. |
| 口が滑る | くちがすべる | to let something slip | 口が滑って、秘密を言ってしまいました。 | I slipped up and told the secret. |
| 口が裂けても言えない | くちがさけてもいえない | to be unable to say something no matter what | そんなひどいことは口が裂けても言えない。 | I could never say something that awful. |
| 口が軽い | くちがかるい | talkative; unable to keep secrets | 彼は口が軽いから、この話はしないほうがいい。 | He can't keep secrets, so you'd better not tell him this. |
| 口に合う | くちにあう | suit one's taste | この料理は私の口に合います。 | This dish suits my taste. |
| 口を出す | くちをだす | to interfere; to butt in | 人の会話に口を出さないで。 | Don't butt into other people's conversation. |
| 口を挟む | くちをはさむ | to interrupt; to butt in | 話の途中で口を挟まないで。 | Don't interrupt in the middle of the conversation. |
| 口を酸っぱくする | くちをすっぱくする | to say something over and over | 母は私に勉強するように口を酸っぱくして言った。 | My mother told me to study so many times that her mouth became sour. |
| 口車に乗る | くちぐるまにのる | to be taken in by smooth talk | 悪い人の口車に乗らないでください。 | Please don't be taken in by bad people's smooth talk. |
| 喉から手が出る | のどからてがでる | to want something desperately | このゲームが欲しくて喉から手が出るほどだ。 | I want this game so much that a hand is coming out of my throat. |
| 四面楚歌 | しめんそか | being surrounded by enemies; in a hopeless situation | 彼は四面楚歌の状態だった。 | He was in a hopeless situation, surrounded by enemies. |
| 息が合う | いきがあう | to be in sync; to work well together | あの二人は息が合っている。 | Those two are in sync. |
| 息をのむ | いきをのむ | to be breathless with surprise or admiration | その景色の美しさに息をのんだ。 | I was breathless at the beauty of the scenery. |
| 手が出ない | てがでない | can't afford; can't bring oneself to act | このバッグは高くて手が出ない。 | This bag is too expensive, so I can't afford it. |
| 手が焼ける | てがやける | be hard to handle; troublesome | あの子は本当に手が焼ける。 | That kid is really hard to handle. |
| 手が足りない | てがたりない | be short-handed; not have enough hands | 今日は手が足りなくて、忙しいです。 | We are short-handed today, so we're busy. |
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